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Royal British Legion: New Standard Dedicated

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7 May 2002

London veterans of the Forces of the Crown will mark a new development for the Royal British Legion at Southwark Cathedral on Sunday 12 May. The Legion branch founded in 1930 at the old LCC, later GLC, on the South Bank, will Lay Up its Standards at the Cathedral as it takes on a new name at the invitation of the Mayor of London. The branch is still denied access to the memorials in the old County Hall.

Baroness Hamwee, Deputy Chair of the London Assembly, representing the Mayor, will present them with a new Standard with the title: Royal British Legion - Greater London Authority City Hall Branch.

The Ambulance Service and the Fire Brigade will also take part. Ms Valerie Shawcross, Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, will lay a wreath at the memorial to the members of the Fire Brigade who died in the Second World War.

The Standards given into the custody of Southwark Cathedral will form the basis of a memorial to many men and women of those councils who served London for over a century. There is no other memorial to those who served as elected members or staff since the inception of the county councils in 1889.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 30 or more Standards, including those of the Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service and several regimental associations, will form a Guard of Honour at the main door of the Cathedral. At 2.40 pm they will be inspected by Mr Ian Cannell MBE, National Chairman of the Legion; the Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, Lt Col Michael Lowe; the Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Hilary Wines and Baroness Hamwee, Deputy Chair of the London Assembly.

An outline of the programme follows:

2.40 Inspections of the Guard of Honour outside the Cathedral main door commence.

2.40 Laying of Fire Brigade wreath at the memorial within the Cathedral

2.55 Guard of Honour moves into the Nave. Evensong is sung. During the entrance procession, the Band of the Royal Logistic Corps plays “Onward Christian Soldiers”. The Standard bearers follow the clergy procession down the aisle and take position on each side. The Dean, the V Rev Colin Slee, receives the old Standards and places them on the altar. Then he receives the new Standard, which is dedicated with prayers and laid on the altar. The lessons will be read by Sir James Swaffield CBE RD, Patron of the Greater London Authority City Hall Branch of the Royal British Legion, and by Lt Col Michael Lowe RD* JP DL, representing the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London. The Address is by Canon Helen Cunliffe, Canon Pastor. During the service, “Last Post” and “Reveille” are sounded by the Buglers of the Essex Corps of Drums, and Standards are dipped.

About 4.15 At the end of Evensong, the New Standard will follow the clergy procession, and the Guard of Honour of Standards follow, returning to the Churchyard, where they will dip in salute as the New Standard is trooped past them. - FURTHER PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Maurice Hudson, Branch Chairman, 020-7639 0520.

Patrick Olivier - Diocesan Communications Officer
Tel: 020-7939 9400
Mobile: 07831-694021
Fax: 020-7939 9468